UK Grammar Schools: When to Apply for 2025
Parents, are you considering a grammar school in the UK for your child in September 2025? If so, the time to start thinking abut the 11+ entrance exam is now.
A grammar school in England or Northern Ireland is a secondary school where students are selected based on 11+ entrance exams. The 11+ is taken at the beginning of Year 6, typically in September.
What is the timeline and key deadlines for the 11+ exam?
April - May 2024: Most grammar schools open their registration for the 11+ exam during this month. This means that if your child is in Year 5 and they want to apply for a grammar school for Year 7 - you need to apply now or very soon!
The 11+ exam is organised by a consortium of grammar schools in some counties; in others, you will need to enter your child for a test at each school. The exception is Buckinghamshire which automatically enters all primary children for the 11+ exam and parents need to opt-out if they want to withdraw their child from the process.
June - July 2024: Deadlines for registration. These dates may vary, so it's advisable to check with individual schools.
September 2024: For most UK grammar schools the 11+ exam takes place during the first two weeks in September 2024. Some schools hold exams in October. Parents should confirm the exact date with their chosen school/local authority.
October 2024: Results for the 11+ exam are typically released in mid-October. When you get your child's 11+ results, you'll see how they did in the verbal, mathematical, and non-verbal sections, and find out if they qualify for a grammar school. Passing the 11+ doesn't guarantee your child a spot at a grammar school though.
October 31 2024: As well as applying for the 11+ exam, you will need to include your choice of grammar school/s on your secondary school application; this has to be submitted to your local education authority by October 31 for the following academic year and can include your preferred choice of both grammar and state schools.
March 2025: UK secondary school allocations are confirmed on March 1, 2025.
September 2025: Start of the new academic year, with students starting Year 7 in their allocated grammar (or other) school.
Which area has the best grammar schools in the UK?
There are approximately 160 grammar schools across the UK. Among these, Kent boasts the highest number of 38 grammar schools, followed by London with 19, Lincolnshire with 15, Buckinghamshire with 13, and Essex with eight.
A complete list of where UK grammar schools are located is below. We have included links to the local authority's admissions page too.
- Cumbria & Lancashire
There are five schools in the Lancashire and Cumbria region, four grammar schools in Lancashire and one in Cumbria. - Devon
There are seven grammar schools in the county of Devon. - Dorset
There are four grammar schools in Dorset: two in Bournemouth and two in Poole. - Essex
There are eight grammar schools in Essex. - Gloucestershire
There are seven grammar schools in Gloucestershire. - Greater Manchester
- Hertfordshire
There are two grammar schools in Barnet and one in Enfield, and seven in South-west Hertfordshire. - Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire has 14 grammar schools. - London
There are 19 grammar schools in London:
London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Bexley
London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Enfield
London Borough of Kingston upon Thames
London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Sutton
London Borough of Wandsworth
- Kent
Kent has the largest cluster of grammar schools nationwide –including 35 fully selective grammar schools. - Medway
Medway has six grammar schools. - Merseyside
There are six grammar schools in the Wirral. - West Midlands
There are five grammar schools in Warwickshire. - Wiltshire
There are two grammar schools in Wiltshire. - Yorkshire
There are six grammar schools in Yorkshire.
